Mattanur: Health Minister K. K. Shylaja has come out in open support of her husband and former Mattanur municipality chairman K. Bhaskaran, who courted controversy after allegedly beating up a female party functionary.Responding to the allegation at a public meeting in Mattanur Saturday, the minister said: “My husband is short-tempered, but he would never resort to a physical attack.”

“If someone commits a mistake, I won’t’ refrain from speaking about it publicly. He gets irritable and angry easily. Not many CPM workers are there in Mattanur who have not received a mouthful from him. But such disagreements don’t spark animosity between them. He has never physically abused anyone. If he has such aggressive and impulsive behavior, I would have separated from him long back.

I was deeply pained by the allegation that my husband assaulted a female functionary. It was the most distressing thing I have encountered in my political career. Sheela, who reportedly raised the allegation, and her husband Rajan, are long-time party members. Personally and professionally, they maintain a cordial relationship with Bhaskaran.

He has good friends from all walks of life, regardless of gender. As he was a bit tensed on the day of the municipal election, he spoke to Sheela in a harsh tone. That was what happened,” the minister said.

She also demanded an inquiry to identify the source of the fabricated reports. “Neither the CPM state committee nor the central committee have received such a complaint. Mysteriously, these fake stories on an imaginary complaint surfaced with a Delhi dateline. It should be probed,” the minister said in a chocked voice during the reception accorded to the victorious LDF councilors. CPM central committee member E. P. Jayarajan MLA and other LDF leaders, who addressed the gathering thereafter avoided broaching the topic.